The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-30
THE NEWSPAPER,

The NEWSPAPER.
IT'S ORIGIN AND ITs HIsToRY---1Ts POW
Err FOR GOOD.
HIS Great Value i'm Forming Public
Opinion, ana it's Efficiency as Il
Private EducntOr OF the People.
An Essay Written by A. W. Parker, of Alb
! beville.
The following essay was written by
MIR. n. w. Parker of our town, and
submitted in competition for the prizes
offered by the Press and Banner last
Summer, and whilst it was regarded
by the Committee as u most excellent
paper of it's kind, it was not awarded
either of the prizes, for the reason,
that, in their opinion. it did not cover
all the points, as laid down in the adj
vertisement.
1t is herewith published because OF
Its excellence of style, and its valua-
BILE suggestions. It would reflect cred
it upon any pen.
In the early days of civilization, be
ore the inventions of modern art,
which have made the means of n randi
communication of Thoughts and idens
so easy, men were wont to sway their
fellow-men by the powers OF oratory
and the gift of ]elouuence, and in the
crowded forum on busy market-placc
the orators eNerted the Influence which
IS now exercised by the thoughtful
writer's.
Since the invention of the art which
mas done more towards the education
anu elevation Of the masses than any
other-.namely, the art Of printing.
and the discovery of the forces OF
steam and electricity which enable us
to establish rapid means for the dis
coVery and transmission Of intelli-
gence, oratory has lost it's ascendency
and 1t is upon the pen that VIZ now
rely most Tor the purpose of guiding
public opinion.
me writer has many advantages
over the orator-he appeals to n larger
mankind, and is dependent upon no
circumstances of time and place for
opportunities to advance his views.
Then, too, words written arc a part
or hlstory,' while words spoken are
but of the moment.
Oratory being no longer predomi-
nent, we may naturally look for it's de-
cline, n for an increase of the nro-
ductions of the pen.
Naturally as the powers of oratory
has diminished in its scope, the neces-
sity for its cultivation seems less. and
we n that the world no longer pro-
duces a Demosthenes or Cicero. while
IL shows an increase of statesmen.
philosophers, and writer's. The cause
OF THIS is not that oratory has lost any
OF us power over men, but now that it
IS so much easier to reach their
thoughts through the eye than the
ears, that the former means receive
more attention.
The ready writer Yields an almost
im~measurable influence over the
minds OF men, and nowhere is he able
10 exert his powers to a greater extent
than through the medium of the news
paper press.
Inc Newspaper appeals to a larger
number OF thoughtful readers than
any other institution of the day, and
It's columns have as much to do with
the formation of the ideas of the pub
lie as any influence to which they are
subjected.
|, The growth of this institution has
beer marvellous, and is Indicative of
the progress and advancement of the
age.
There is nothing which marks more
clearly an intelligent community than
n presence of a good newspaper, and
nothing, in the community exerts a
more wholesome Influence than such
a one when we'll conducted.
Indeed, we can almost as we'll csti-
mate the intelligence Of II community
by its newspapers, as by it's schools
or courts Of justice, and the newspa.
per Is peculiar inasmuch as it not only
reflects but largely contributes to the
public intelligence.
Inc Newspaper may be said to have
originated in Germany, the first Pc
riodlcal newspaper having been pub
lished in 1915 at Frankfort-on-the-
Rhine. Before this there had beer
news-pamplets; but none had assumed
the aspect of a periodical.
1T was in England, however, that
the newspaper met with most success
and developed most rapidly into its
present importance.
Commencing with the "Weekly
News in 1922, the Newspaper soon
Increased in Importance, and became
a political as well as al educational
power.
At first it was nothing more than q
publication Of the news of the dav
without comment, or any attempt AT
forming the opinions of the public.
But by degrees it began to review
fnd discuss the events recorded. And
here began the great power, and dan.
ger, too, of the Newspaper.
AS long as it was q mere summary
OF news, the record of the events OF
the day, which were presented with.